Article tracking method and system

ABSTRACT

A system and method are useful for tracking and/or managing an article at a plurality of stations. An RFID tag including a memory and an antenna is associated with each article to be tracked, or a container, or both. RFID tag readers at the stations communicate with the RFID tags and store information therefrom in a database. The databases may be accessed, e.g., from a remote and/or web-based processor, via communication means whereby the article being tracked or managed may be located and its history obtained.

This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/408,151 filed on Apr. 7, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,710, which is acontinuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/US01/31828 filedOct. 11, 2001 and of PCT International Application No. PCT/US01/42563filed Oct. 9, 2001, one or both of which Applications claim the benefitof:

-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/239,293 filed Oct. 11,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/239,649 filed Oct. 12,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/240,748 filed Oct. 16,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/243,640 filed Oct. 26,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/245,596 filed Nov. 3, 2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/248,454 filed Nov. 14,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/255,162 filed Dec. 13,    2000,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/260,849 filed Jan. 10,    2001,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/303,994 filed Jul. 6, 2001,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/304,017 filed Jul. 9, 2001,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/305,686 filed Jul. 16,    2001,-   U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/323,514 filed Sep. 19,    2001, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/854,722 filed May 14,    2001.

The present invention relates to an article tracking system and, inparticular, to such system useful in various environments.

In a manufacturing operation, in a warehousing operation, in a shippingand/or receiving operation, in a transportation operation, in awholesale or a retail merchandising operation, and in many otheroperations there is a desire to maintain a complete, accurate and up todate inventory or other record of the units of products made, stored,received, processed, shipped and/or sold. Automated or automatic methodsof providing such record are desirable, however, conventional methodsall have shortcomings that result in less than the desired record beingprovided.

Labels and/or plastic cards and tags associated with units of productwere an attempt to afford relative automated record keeping, but tendedto be cumbersome to use and error prone. More sophisticated automaticmethods employed bar-coded labels and/or magnetic stripe cards and tags,each with suitable readers. While the cost of such labels and cards islow, so is the information that can be embedded or coded in either ofthese media. In addition, most readers are read-only devices and cannotstore any additional information in the bar-code label or magneticstripe card.

Moreover, bar-code media require a “line-of-sight” communication pathbetween device and reader, and magnetic stripe media require a direct orclose contact communication path between device and reader at a suitable“swiping speed,” and the reliability of correct reading is about 80–90%,as anyone who has gone through a store check-out bar-code reader or amagnetic stripe credit card reader will recognize. Repeated passes ofthe product in front of the bar-code reader or swipes of the credit cardthrough the card reader create delay and annoyance in these settings,and produce record errors in other applications.

Electronic tracking using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags isone way to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art bar-code andmagnetic stripe approaches. Prior art systems typically do not track thearticles to be tracked along the processing path and/or do not havereliable, essentially 100% correct reader performance, essentiallywithout the need for human intervention, as is desirable for providingcomplete and accurate records.

In a manufacturing operation, for example, there is a need to monitorprogress and productivity as well as to keep track of the product beingproduced. To this end, it would be desirable to have a system thatprovides a record including identification of the operator and work timeor processing time at each work station, operator “signature,” and otherinformation of interest, preferably for each of product. A reader tocapture such information, as well as a way for storing such information,and for associating such information with a particular unit of product,is also desirable.

In a shipping or receiving operation, for example, paper documentsconventionally contain the necessary information, such as product type,serial number, manufacturer, customer, owner, and the like, relating toeach item of product. Even bar-coded labels and magnetic stripe cardshave not proved completely satisfactory due to the need forline-of-sight readers and significantly less than 100% reading rateand/or accuracy.

Accordingly, there is a need for a tracking system that can track anarticle at various stations, that has a very high correct-readingability (e.g., approaching 100%), and that does not requireline-of-sight readers.

To this end, the method of the present invention for tracking and/ormanaging an article at a plurality of stations, wherein an RFID tag isassociated with the article, comprises:

associating at least one RFID tag with an article, the RFID tagincluding an electronic memory containing information relating to thearticle and an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving information inan RFID tag format;

providing a plurality of stations at which an operation is performed,each station comprising an RFID reader for transmitting and/or receivinginformation in the RFID tag format via an antenna defining a detectionregion proximate the station;

storing in a database associated with each station at least informationreceived and providing from the database information that is included intransmitted information, wherein the information stored in the databaseof the station includes information relating to one or more of anarticle, an operation performed at the station, and a condition; and

communicating information stored in the database of the station to aremote processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be more easily and better understood when read inconjunction with the FIGURES of the Drawing which include:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example embodimentof a tracking system in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of one ormore stations and/or operations including the present invention anduseful with a system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart schematic diagram of an example of a trackingsystem according to the invention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are schematic representations of memory allocationsand relational database arrangements suitable for use with theinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow chart schematic diagrams of examples ofutilizations of the memory allocations and relational databasearrangements of FIGS. 4A–4C according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of examples of antenna suitable for usewith the invention; and

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8 are schematic diagrams of examples of antenna arrayssuitable for use with the invention.

In the Drawing, where an element or feature is shown in more than onedrawing figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used todesignate such element or feature in each figure, and where a closelyrelated or modified element is shown in a figure, the samealphanumerical designation primed may be used to designate the modifiedelement or feature. Similar elements may be shown in the same figuredesignated by different “dash numbers” such as X-1, X-2, and so on. Itis noted that, according to common practice, the various features of thedrawing are not to scale, and the dimensions of the various features arearbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A system according to the invention is useful for tracking an article ata plurality of stations. A smart tag is associated with each article tobe tracked, for example, by being attached to the article eitherdirectly or indirectly, e.g., to a container containing the article. Thesmart tag includes at least an electronic memory coupled to an antennaby which information from the memory may be transmitted and/orinformation may be received and stored in the memory. Smart tag controlunits (readers and/or writers) and antenna arrays at the stationscommunicate with the smart tags and communicate directly or indirectlywith one or more processors that process the information, for example,such as for monitoring and/or controlling the stations and/or controlunits and/or lines including one or more stations.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example embodimentof a tracking system 10 in accordance with the invention. System 10includes one or more “operation lines” 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N ofstations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N within or associated with one or moreplants or facilities or parts thereof. Operation line refers to anycollection or group of one or more stations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N atwhich one or more related or unrelated operations may be performed.Dotted line 102 indicates that additional stations 100 may be included.Examples of operations include, but are not limited to, manufacturingoperations, processing, testing, inspecting, operation timing,productivity monitoring, work and/or time recording, inventoryoperations, quality control operations, shipping operations, receivingoperations, storage operations, sales operations, displaying, buyingoperations, wholesale operations and retail operations.

Each station OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N includes a control unit CU-1, CU-2,. . . CU-N for communicating with smart tags when the smart tag iswithin the detection region of the control unit and its associatedantenna array (not shown in FIG. 1). Each antenna array includes aplurality of antenna, typically loop antenna, arranged so that a smarttag within the detection region will be detected with substantially 100%reliability. The antenna array typically produces and/or is responsiveto electromagnetic fields having a component in each of three orthogonaldirections, or at least in directions coupling with the antenna of thesmart tag in any orientation it may be in when in the detection region.

Stations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N of each operation line 100-1, 100-2, . .. 100-N are coupled for direct or indirect communication with a computeror processor LC, 200, for the communication of information therebetweenor among, and for the processing of the information as further describedherein, at least for the monitoring of operations at the stations and/orfor controlling the stations. While only one processor (computer) isnecessary to the system 10, it is often convenient to employ a networkof processors (computers) in which plural de-centralized processors LCare linked, as by a network, for example, to a central processor 200.Typically, each local processor LC is associated with one or morestations OS for monitoring the operation thereof and/or for controllingsuch station(s) OS, and is linked with the central processor 200 forcommunicating monitoring information therewith and/or for communicatingcontrol and/or programming information therewith. Thus, operationstations OS may operate independently, under the control of localcomputer LC, under control of central computer 200, or some combinationthereof.

Such communication between and among stations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N andone or more computers or processors LC, 200 may be by any convenientcommunication apparatus, such as by wires and cables, radio or RFtransmission, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), opticalfiber, and the like, or combinations thereof. While such communicationmay be direct, it is typically at least partially indirect in that oneor more communication hubs 110, 150 and or communication devices 120,220 may couple one or ones of stations 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N withone or ones of local computers/local processors LC-1, LC-2, . . . LC-Nand/or central computer/central processor 200.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, stations 100-1, 100-2, . . .100-N of line 100-1 are coupled for communication with local processorLC-1 via communication hub 110-1, stations 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N ofline 100-2 are coupled for communication with local processor LC-2 viacommunication hub 110-2, and stations 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N of line100-N are coupled for communication with local processor LC-N viacommunication hub 110-N, but could be coupled directly, by RFcommunication or otherwise. Typically, information is communicated amongcontrol units CU, local processor LC and central processor 200 in realtime or essentially real time. Alternatively, for example, informationmay be communicated to local processor LC when an article is completedat the last station OS-N and from local processor LC to centralprocessor at predetermined times or upon demand.

Lines 100-1 and 100-N are coupled for communication with local processorLC-1 via network communication hub 150, which hub is optional, and tocentral processor 200 as indicated by the broad arrow 202 associatedwith central processor 200. Additionally and/or alternatively, asillustrated by lines 100-2 and 100-N, local processors LC-2 and LC-N arecoupled by communication devices 120-2, 120-N, respectively, forcommunication with each other and for communication with centralprocessor 200 via communication device 220 associated therewith.Communication devices 120, 220 may be of any suitable type, such as RF,LAN, WAN, optical and the like. Communication devices 120 as describedmay also be employed for communication between any station OS and itsassociated local processor LC and/or central processor 200, or for anyline 100 or lines 100 therewith.

Any convenient communication protocol, such as the RS485 or RS-232, maybe employed. The selection of wired and/or wireless communication amongvarious elements of system 10 typically will depend on the location,proximity and geography of the various elements and the relative ease ofproviding wire, cable or optical fiber as compared to wireless radiofrequency or optical communication.

Communication may occur periodically, but promptly (e.g., withinseconds) relative to the speed and frequency of the operations andinformation being transmitted, such as operation performed and the timeand date thereof, and the timeliness of tracking and monitoring desired.Communication may be periodic, but less frequent, regarding the statusof a station OS, such as for bill-of-material vs. actual-materialinformation and proper functioning of the article being processed.Periodic communication may be beneficial for wireless communication toreduce frequency spectrum and bandwidth requirements, and communicationunits may be placed at higher locations and unobstructed positions, suchas in a tall building, or other suitable location proper communication.

Some or all of lines 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N may communicate withlocal processor LC which in turn communicates with centralcomputer/processor 200, as illustrated, or, alternatively, some or allof lines 100-1, 100-2, . . . 100-N or of stations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-Nmay communicate directly with central computer/processor 200 without alocal processor LC. Further, any of stations OS-1, OS-2, . . . OS-N mayoperate independently of (i.e. not under the control of) a localprocessor LC and/or a central processor 200, but communicatinginformation to a local processor LC and/or central processor 200 for themonitoring of operations as such stations.

Suitable communication devices are available commercially from severalsources and provide direct communication or communication via relaylinks. Such devices are suitable for communication between computersover local area and wide area networks and may employ CDMA and/or spreadspectrum communication techniques. For example, RF communication devicesavailable from Proxim, Inc., located in Sunnyvale, Calif., include, forexample, a RangeLAN2 system operating at 2.4 GHZ, a StratumBuilding-to-Building system, and a Symphony Home and Small Officesystem. Such devices can transmit and receive information andprogramming changes between and among central processor 200, localcomputers LC and/or control units CU equipped with a compatiblecommunication device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of one ormore stations and/or operations OS-1 through OS-4 including the presentinvention and useful with a system 10 according to the presentinvention. Articles A upon which operations are to be performed passthrough stations OS-1-OS-4 at which such operations are performed asgenerally indicated by arrow 140. Articles A pass through the respectivedetection regions of antenna arrays 130-1 through 130-4 as they passstations OS-1-OS-4 and so are detected by the respective smart tagcontrol units CU of stations OS-1-OS-4.

Antenna arrays 130 each include plural antenna 132, 134, 136 that may bedisposed at ones of stations OS-1-OS-4 and/or between ones of stationsOS-1-OS-4 in an “all-orientation” manner so as to detect a smart tag STin its detection region irrespective of the orientation of the smart tagST. Antenna arrays 130 may be disposed “in front” of and “behind” agiven station OS to include detection regions at an entrance to and atan exit from a station OS, as illustrated by entrance antenna array130-2A and exit antenna array 130-2B in the detail diagram of OS-2.Plural antenna 132, 134, 136 of a given antenna array 130 are preferablysequentially activated (i.e. activated one at a time in sequence) sothat they do not interfere with each other. Entrance antenna array130-2A and exit antenna array 130-2B are sometimes referred to as an“entrance gate” and an “exit gate” to station OS.

Where stations OS and therefore antenna arrays 130 are in closeproximity, e.g., within about 10–50 meters, one smart tag control unitCU may be utilized with a plurality of antenna arrays 130. In such case,the individual antenna 132, 134, 136 of each of the arrays 130 aresequentially activated, preferably so that only one antenna is active atany given time. The switching arrangement or hub for sequentiallycoupling the individual antenna 132, 134, 136 to the reader/writer ofcontrol unit CU may either be included in control unit CU or may beremote from control unit CU, typically proximate to antenna arrays 130.

Each antenna array 130 (including antenna arrays 130 having an entranceantenna array 130-2A and an exit antenna array 130-2B) is coupled to asmart tag control unit CU (CU-2) that includes at least a smart tagreader for reading information produced from the electronic memory EM ofa smart tag ST within its detection region and preferably also includesa smart tag writer for transmitting information for storing theinformation in the memory EM of smart tag ST. Such information mayinclude, for example, the identification of the article, the operationor of the operator or inspector, process and/or quality controlinformation, arrival and departure times of an article A, start andfinish times of the operation, date and time, process conditions and anyother information of interest for tracking, control, quality, efficiencyor other management purposes.

Each station OS is coded with information pertinent to the operationperformed thereat, which information is transmitted to the smart tag STassociated with the article A then at the station OS and stored in itsmemory EM. In addition, a station OS may include a keypad or keyboardfor the entry of additional information, e.g., by an operator orinspector, typically in interaction with information read from the smarttag ST of an article A then at that station OS. Typically, suchinformation may include, for example, quality or inspection information,scrap or waste information, and/or other information peculiar to thatstation at that time, and any other information of interest fortracking, control, quality, efficiency or other management purposes.

The information so obtained may, in addition to being used for trackingarticles A and control of stations OS, be used for management such asfor calculating efficiency, product yield, operator work time and idletime and break time, productivity, and process metrics. Such informationas used in manufacturing and inventory control may be used directly forstandard MRPII or standard manufacturing resource/requirement planning.Typically and preferably, the information so obtained is communicated tothe processor LC, 200 for monitoring and control and preferably is alsotransmitted via control unit CU and antenna array 130 to antenna ANT ofsmart tag ST and stored in electronic memory EM thereof.

In the example where system 10 is utilized in manufacturing to monitorthe manufacturing processes, smart tags ST are attached to each unit tobe built, typically to a basic or major component thereof, such as achassis, enclosure, subassembly, or other major component or part, i.e.to work in process. In addition, a smart tag ST may be attached toadditional components or parts such as expensive or critical parts ormaterials, or to the containers, packages, crates, containers, pallets,or “tote” (tote box or container) or other container containing suchparts or components.

Containers. packages and “totes” with smart tags ST attached may bereused, e.g., after erasing the product-specific and operation-specificinformation stored in its memory EM. Smart tags ST attached to productmay either remain with the product or may be removed and, if desired,erased and reused. Smart tags remaining with product may be useful tofacilitate servicing in the field, and/or for subsequent use ormanufacturing or other operation in conjunction with smart tagreaders/writers compatible with smart tag ST.

At each station OS-1-OS-4, the following information is recorded(communicated and stored) in both the smart tag ST associated with theproduct (article A) and the processor LC, 200: Control unit CU typicallyprovides for the recording of product A arrival time and the operatorand operation process code, and a derived or “as-built” bill of materialor parts list. If station OS is a “kiosk” type including akeypad/keyboard providing data entry capability, the operator can inputinformation such as extra material used, special observations or choicesmade and various defects, any issue or information the operator desiresto record, and the like.

Preferably, at each station OS, similar information is stored in theelectronic memory EM of the smart tag ST associated with the article Aat a given station OS by the smart tag control unit reader/writer CUassociated therewith and communicated to the processor LC, 200. Wherethe time of processing or an operation is important, antenna arrays 130with entrance and exit “gates” may be utilized.

Where movement of product is relatively quick, i.e there is a shorttravel time between adjacent stations, antenna arrays 130 may be placedbetween stations OS. Each antenna array 130 in effect serves as an exitgate for one station OS-n and an entrance gate for the next stationOS-(n+1), and process time at any station or stations OS may be obtainedby subtraction of the times the article A is at each of the variousantenna arrays 130.

Smart tags ST′ that are different from smart tags ST associated with thearticles A may be provided so that smart tag control unit CU at astation OS can monitor information contained in smart tag ST′. Smarttags ST′ may be different in form from smart tag ST in that the antennaANT and memory EM are embodied in an operator or employee identificationbadge or card (e.g., a smart card) or other convenient form. Smart tagsST′ are different in function in that they are at least differentlycoded so that smart tag control units CU and processor LC, 200differentiate them from smart tags ST associated with articles A to betracked.

Where smart tags ST′ are employee or operator or other individualidentification, system 10 may obtain information from smart tag ST′ suchas operator identification, an employee number or serial number, as wellas other information pertaining to the individual or of interest tomanagement, and can process that information as part of the trackingrecord associated with an article A, such as tracking which operatorperformed each operation on a particular unit of product and when theoperation was performed and how long it took. Such smart tags ST′ arealso preferably of the wireless type so that communication with smarttag control units CU does not require contact or a line-of-sightcommunication path.

In addition, where such individual identification smart tags ST′ areutilized, they may additionally be read and/or written to by one or moresmart tag control units CU at locations other than operation stationsOS, such as at entrances and gates to a facility or a particular workarea, for purposes of obtaining time and attendance information (i.e.time-clock information) concerning the individual to whom the smart tagST′ is issued. Such time and attendance information may also be trackedor otherwise monitored by processor LC, 200, and in conjunction withsalary and labor rate information be used to track and monitor productcost, production cost, job and order cost, and other costs.

Detection of the presence of an individual's smart tag ST′ may also beutilized to provide work orders, special instructions, notices, andother information to the individual. Antenna arrays 130 for detectingindividual smart tags ST′ may be located in locations other than astation or operation area OS. In addition, information stored in theindividual's smart tag ST′ may represent whether or not the individualis authorized access to a particular station, operation or area, and somay be utilized to open a door or gate, release a lock or interlock,enable operation of apparatus and/or equipment and otherwise interactwith the smart tag control unit CU and other components of system 10,e.g., to manage an employee. Where the smart tag ST′ is not oneauthorized to be in a particular station, operation or area, thatinformation may be recorded and system 10 may give an appropriatewarning and/or may signal management.

Smart tags ST′ may also be associated with the parts, components and/orunits of material used in an operation at a given station OS-n. In suchcase the identification and quantity of such part, component and/ormaterial utilized with a particular article A-n is tracked from theinformation obtained therefrom via smart tag control unit CU-nassociated with the given station OS-n and subsequent stations OS-(n+1),OS-(n+2) and so forth. This facilitates automatic production of actualor “as-built” bills of material for each unit of product or article A.

In addition to such tracking and monitoring of parts, components,materials, and work in process on an essentially real-time basis, ratesof usage, inventory and replenishment ordering may also be controlled,such as for “just-in-time” and similar purchasing and inventorymanaging. Further, excessive usage, process inefficiency and theft maybe uncovered. With operator entry of information at a given station OSvia a keypad or keyboard, explanations of excess material usage,materials substitutions, and the like can be utilized to reducediscrepancies and/or inconsistencies between the actual bill of materialand a theoretical or planned bill of material.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the use of the present invention is subsequentoperations of different kinds with compatible smart tag readers and/orwriters. When article A has moved along the path indicated by arrow 140and leaves station OS-4 passing through antenna array 130-4, path 140splits, for example, in two or more possible different directions 142,144. These directions may lead to any conceivable use or disposition forarticles A. Examples include storage, distribution, exhibition ordisplay, sales, shipping or transport, and the like.

Direction 142, for example, leads to a warehouse WH or other storage ordistribution facility in which articles A-1-A-N are stored, e.g., asinventory. Within warehouse WH are various storage areas SA of two SA-1,SA-2 are illustrated. Storage areas SA may be physical floor spaces,shelving units, cabinets, racks or bins and the like. As illustrated,articles A-1 and A-2 having smart tags ST-1 and ST-2, respectively,thereon are in storage area SA-1 and articles A-3 and A-N having smarttags ST-3 and ST-N, respectively, thereon are in storage area SA-2.

Each storage area SA is preferably provided with an antenna array ofsimilar type to arrays 130 that detect smart tags ST associated with thearticles A therein irrespective of their orientation, i.e.all-orientation RFID antenna arrays. The antenna arrays of each storageareas SA coupled to a smart tag control unit CU and to a processor LC,200 (i.e. either a central processor or a combination of central andlocal processors) as described above in relation to FIG. 1.

Thus, warehouse WH comprises a system 10 like that described above, andsimilar to that described in relation to manufacturing with respect toFIG. 2. In addition to array antenna 130 associated with storage areasSA, a similar all-orientation antenna array can be provided at theentrance(s) and exit(s) from warehouse WH so that articles arriving andleaving are monitored and tracked. Such entry and exit antenna arraysare suitably sized for passage of personnel, packages, containers,pallets, carts, forklifts, and other objects intended to pass throughsuch entrance or exit.

This not only facilitates reconciliation of inventory total quantity andidentity with information of identity, quantity and location read fromthe smart tags ST in each storage area SA, but facilitates the detectionof unauthorized moving or removing of articles A. In addition, thiscapability also facilitates the handling of time-sensitive articles(those that spoil, degrade or expire with passage of time) on a first-infirst-out basis to minimize spoilage and of expiration.

Warehouse WH is but one example of a location or application for thepresent system. Location WH could be, for example, a cargo vessel (ship)having many cargo containers SA in its hold, an airplane having manybaggage containers SA in its baggage compartment, a train having manycars (boxcars, refrigerated cars, auto carrier cars) SA, a truck orother vehicle having plural cargo zones SA, a store having many displayunits or shelves SA, and so forth. In addition to storage areas or zonesSA, any of the foregoing may include antenna arrays at various accessways, such as entrances and exits to such areas and zones SA, as may thefacilities at which they are loaded or unloaded, so that the locationand time at which particular articles and/or containers were loadedand/or unloaded is recorded, tracked and monitored.

In addition, where smart tags ST, ST′ are attached to or associated withcontainers, crates, pallets and the like that are reusable, suchcontainers, crates, pallets and the like can be tracked and monitored bythe smart tags ST, ST′ thereon for loss prevention and more efficientutilization.

Thus it is evident that the same system elements may be configured toprovide a system in accordance with the invention in any one of manytypes of facilities, locations, functions and operations.

For example, when system 10 is utilized in a store or retail salesenvironment, such as where inventory status is desired, the stationshave different names and functions (operations), but operation of thesystem is as described above. With regard to FIG. 2, station 1 (OS-1)could, for example, be a receiving dock, station 2 (OS-2) could bestorage bins in a stockroom, storeroom or warehouse, station 3 (OS-3)could be display racks and shelves in a customer area, and station 4(OS-4) could be the checkout station.

Merchandise to be sold (i.e. articles A) arrives at receiving dock OS-1(station 1) either already tagged with smart tags ST or is tagged uponarrival. If articles A are tagged when they arrive, then it is desirableto have an antenna array entrance gate 130 through which the articlespass to get to the receiving dock OS-1 so that the smart tags ST thereonare read and information pertaining to the articles is recorded as aninventory record. The operation of station 1 is receiving.

The smart tags ST applied may be adhesive tags that adhere to thearticles A or may be included in a relatively large conventionalreusable circular anti-theft devices of the sort available fromCheck-Point Systems of Thorofare, N.J., typically utilized in retailclothing stores. These conventional anti-theft devices are large so asto be obvious and cannot be removed from the article without damagingthe fabric or other material from which the article is made, unlessremoved using a special tool or release device generally not availableto the public. Typically, a smart tag ST employing an I-CODEsemiconductor chip from Philips is configured in form to fit inside suchconventional anti-theft device so that the anti-theft-device and thesmart tag ST cooperate to reduce theft and lost or misplaced merchandise(articles).

If the articles do not come with smart tags, then smart tags ST areaffixed to the articles before the articles A are moved to the stockroomor storeroom OS-2 (station 2). In either case, articles A are moved tothe stockroom OS-2 (station 2) passing through antenna array 130-1 alongthe path indicated by arrow 140, whereby information read from smart tagST is recorded as an inventory record in processor LC, 200. Station 2may include a plurality of storage bins or spaces similar to areas SA-1,SA-2, . . . , each having an all-orientation antenna array 130, so thatthe location, quantity, identity and other information regarding thearticles A stored therein may be ascertained at any time by utilizingthe antenna arrays 130 associated with such bins SA to read the smarttags ST associated with the articles A stored therein.

The preferred smart tag ST for such retail application is an RFID“passive” tag operating at 13.56 MHZ or another common RFID tagfrequency. The memory of the electronic device of smart tag ST can bepartitioned to contain required information for inventory purposes, suchas the universal product code (UPC), the specific manufacturer, make orbrand name, the specific model or type, the specific piece, pricing,date of receipt, and other relevant and/or desired or usefulinformation.

Station 3 (OS-3) is the retail display space, showroom or other areawhere customers may inspect and/or select articles A for purchase. Theoperation of station 3 is merchandise display, whether the customeractually purchases the articles A displayed or makes a selection fromthe articles displayed and receives an article A from the storeroom OS-2(station 2). Articles A moving out of storage area OS-2 (station 2) passthrough the detection area of antenna array 130-2 and the smart tags STassociated therewith are read and the information read is used to createa record of the article A leaving the storeroom OS-2. Sections of thedisplay shelves, display cases, showroom areas and the like are fittedwith antenna arrays 130-3, which can be built into attractive decorateddisplay shelves to show the articles advantageously for customerselection, so that the identity, type and quantity of articles in theshowroom/retail space is always available by reading the informationfrom the smart tags ST associated therewith.

An all orientation antenna array 130-4 is also incorporated into thecheckout counter OS-4 (station 4) at which purchases are recorded,tabulated and where the customer pays by cash, credit card or othermethod of payment. The operation of station 4 is order tabulation andpayment. As articles A with associated smart tags ST pass through thedetection region of antenna array 130-4, each is read and theinformation therefrom is communicated to the computer LC or 200 whichtabulates the purchases automatically and quickly, and at the same timeupdates the inventory records to reflect the sale of those specificarticles. Once the articles are paid for, the anti-theft devices withsmart tags ST therein may be removed from the articles A purchased orthe electronic memories of the smart tags associated with the articles Apurchased may be erased or may be coded to indicate they have beenpurchased, so that they will not set off an anti-theft alarm as thearticles are taken from the store.

A display (not shown) may be associated with checkout station OS-4, suchas an LED, CRT, LCD or other display to display information regarding aparticular sale/purchase for the employee and customer. If the store hasa so-called “loyalty” program that awards “points” or otherrepresentations of purchases made (similar to airline frequent flyer andhotel frequent guest loyalty programs) for which the customer is issueda smart card (similar to a smart tag, but in the form of a card, usuallyabout credit-card size), antenna array 130-4 associated with checkoutstation OS-4 can also read the customer's loyalty program informationfrom the customer's loyalty program smart card and then credit thecustomer's loyalty program account for the purchases made and write thecurrent updated information to the memory of the customer's loyaltyprogram smart card. The customer information read from the loyaltyprogram smart card may also be used to display a greeting to thecustomer by name on the display and/or to greet the customer aurallysuing a speech synthesizer.

As described herein, the antenna of the all-orientation antenna arrays130 are preferably either spatially separated or temporally separated bybeing activated sequentially in time to eliminate interference, and asingle control unit CU therefor may control and operate a plurality ofall-orientation antenna arrays 130. It is noted that the use of anantenna array 130 that has the ability to detect smart tags ST in itsdetection region with substantially 100% reading rate, as is the casefor the all-orientation antenna array 130, is important to obtain fullthe advantage of the present invention. Typically, substantially 100%reading rate means at least a reading rate of about 99%, and preferablya reading rate of about 99.5%, irrespective of the orientation of thesmart tag within the detection region of the antenna array. It is notedthat variations in the antenna and/or smart tags and/or control units,such as variations due to component, production, adjustment, tuning,matching and other tolerances, and variation over time and temperature,as well as any other sources of electromagnetic radiation incident onthe antenna, may produce variation of those percentages.

In addition, if store employees are issued individual smart tags ST′,then transactions may be associated with particular employees to monitorperformance quality and deter theft. The employee operating checkoutstation OS-4 can be associated with each sale and article A sold, andcheckout station OS-4 can be arranged to be non functional and/or toregister an alarm if the smart tag ST′ of the assigned employee is notwithin a prescribed distance (e.g., about 2–5 feet or about 0.6–1.6meters) of that station when articles a are passed therethrough.

Advantageously, checkout counter OS-4 employing antenna array 130-4 ismore efficient and should be quicker and less prone to error than areconventional bar-code scanning check out systems which require thearticle to be in close proximity to and in line-of-sight communicationwith the bar code scanner, and yet have a significant error rate. Inaddition, a complete and accurate inventory covering each area andaspect of the particular retail operation is available in real time andwith an extremely low error rate, which is aided by the all-orientationantenna arrays.

Also advantageously, because the same devices and infrastructure forcommunication and processing can be utilized for both anti-theft controland for inventory control operations, the cost should be less than ifdifferent systems were to be used for each operation. Moreover, anadditional antenna array 130-4B (not shown, in addition to array 130-4Aat the checkout) near the store exit may be added simply and with littleadditional expense, further enhancing anti-theft control.

Smart tags ST, ST′ are typically utilized for tagging and electronicallyidentifying articles by reading information stored in the electronicmemory of the smart tag using contact-less radio-frequency (RF)transmissions. Available smart tags operate at RF frequencies betweenhundreds of kilo-Hertz (KHz) and several giga-Hertz (GHz). Typicalfrequencies for RF smart tags and smart cards (functionally the same butdifferent in form) include 125 KHz, 13.56 MHZ, 915 MHZ and 2.45 GHz.

For the present smart tagging system and method, an electronicintegrated circuit in the form of a semiconductor chip is connected toan antenna ANT on a substrate to serve as a tag. The semiconductor chiptypically includes a processor and an electronic memory for storinginformation. Information stored in a smart tag can be read by a suitablesmart tag reader and can be read and written to by a suitablereader/writer. The reader or reader/writer and the tag antenna are tunedsuitably so that RF energy (electromagnetic fields and electricalsignals) can stimulate the tag to emit a signal representative of theinformation (electronic codes or data) stored in the tag memory. Suchcontact-less RF tags eliminate the need for an electrical contact or aline-of-sight path for communication with the smart tag.

Suitable smart card/smart tag semiconductor chips include the I-CODEchip and the MIFARE chip, both available from Philips Semiconductorslocated in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and the types SLE4442 or SLE4428memory ICs available from Siemens of Germany. Also suitable are the“Tag-it”devices available from Texas Instruments of Dallas, Tex., the“Pico-Tag” devices available from Inside Technology of France, anddevices available from Microchips of Phoenix, Ariz. Each smarttag/semiconductor chip must have sufficient memory for storing all ofthe information desired to be stored therein. Typically about 100–500bytes is sufficient and one kilobyte is preferred.

Suitable smart tag reader/writers include the lead tracking apparatusavailable from Avante International Technology, Inc. located inPrinceton, N.J., the Fast-Track system available from Escort MemorySystems located in California, the Interrogator Control Module availablefrom Samsys Technologies, Inc. located in California, and the Memor 2000RFID available from Minec company located in Taby, Sweden, as well asreaders/writers available from Intermec Technologies Corporation locatedin Everett, Wash., Fargo Electronics, Inc. located in Eden Prairie,Minn., or from Atlantek, Inc. located in Wakefield, R.I., or from AvanteInternational Technology located in Princeton, N.J.

Suitable processors (both local processor LC and central processor 200)include any modern personal computer (PC), such as those having aPentium®, Celeron®, or similar processor, running a Windows, Unix orother PC operating system. Where a LAN or WAN network is employed,standard PC networking hardware and software may be included in the PCs.Desirably, the processors, as well as the smart tag control unitsreaders/writers, will have redundant memory and information storage,such as by one or more of non-volatile memory, a hard disk drive, afloppy disk drive, a CD-write drive and the like.

Applications programs suitable for recording and manipulating theinformation include relational database software such as theWindows-NT-based Microsoft ACCESS database as well as ORACLE, SYBASE andINFORMIX database software, and software languages such as Visual Basic,Java, or other language compliant with American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI) Standard 256. Each database record will typicallyinclude fields some or all of the following information: The articleidentification and/or serial number and/or quantity, station and/oroperation identification, entry and exit time data (arriving andleaving), date, bill of material data, actual/planned material usage,keypad/keyboard entered data, component/part/material smart taginformation, operator/employee/individual smart tag information, qualitycontrol and inspection data, transport provider, and the like. Thus, thedatabase maintains an inventory of the articles, their quantities andlocations and may be utilized to categorize the data contained in thedatabase records for tracking any article or any type or group ofarticles, and/or any station so also provide status and inventory bystation, operator or any other desired category of the stored records.Typically, the database software interfaces with other standardsoftware, such as the standard MRPII software available from the GreatPlains division of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.

Desirably, processed information and/or transactional information shouldbe available in human readable form, such as by display on a computermonitor or by print out by a computer printer, both of which may beconventional. Where certain information recorded and/or processed isrepresentative of parameters or conditions that may pose a hazard topersonnel or property, or are critical to an operation or process, orindicate a failure of some test or condition, it is desirable to includean alarm, such as a loudspeaker, flashing light, buzzer or the like,that is activated automatically by an out-of-limit or marginalcondition.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart schematic diagram of an example of a trackingsystem 10 according to the invention, such as that described above inrelation to FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2. Step 310 comprises obtaining a smarttag and encoding into its electronic memory (storing) informationidentifying the article (e.g., product) to which it will be attached andother desired information, such as model number, serial number, date,manufacturer, plant or facility or manufacturing line information andthe like. The smart tag is then placed on or with the article, or on orwith the container containing or to contain the article(s), such as byadhesive or other mechanical attachment or by placement in a pouch orenvelope or holder.

One smart tag may be associated with each article, or a smart tag may beassociated with more than one article, e.g., as when a containercontains plural articles. In the following, description in either thesingular or plural is intended to encompass the other, withoutdistinguishing whether the smart tags and articles are associated on aone-to-one basis or on a one-to-group basis.

Optionally, step 310 also comprises printing a conventional tag or labelwith all or part of the information thereon in human readable for and/orin machine readable form, such as a bar code where subsequent steps willbe performed by both systems including the invention and conventionalbar code readers, i.e. a mixed environment.

Step 320 comprises the operation at station #1 which includes, inaddition to the operation performed on the article, at least reading thesmart tag to obtain the information stored in its memory. Theinformation read from the smart tag is associated with stationinformation, such as the identity of the station (station #1), theoperation, the operator, time and date, materials and the like, which istypically stored at the station, inputted by an operator or read fromother smart tags associated with material or parts used. The combinedassociated information is sometimes referred to as “transactional”information.

Optionally, but preferably, step 320 also comprises transmittingassociated information (preferably the transactional information) to thesmart tag and storing the information in its memory. Thus, both thesmart tag and the station have the same transactional informationpertaining to that article and that station. Any other desiredinformation may likewise be transmitted and stored in the smart tag.Where plural tags may be present in the smart tag detection region of astation at the same time, conventional smart tag “collision-avoidance”or “anti-collision” techniques are employed.

Step 330 comprises recording the associated information (preferably thetransactional information) pertaining to station #1 and operation #1.Initially, such information is recorded in the smart tag control unitand/or a local processor, but is thereafter communicated to a processor,typically a central processor. The transactional information may includetime and date information or time and date information may be associatedwith the transactional information in recording that information.

Step 330 further comprises communicating the information from the smarttag reader to the processor, either directly or via the control unit andone or more local processors. Steps 320–330 may also comprisecommunicating information from the processor to the smart tag.

Steps 340 and 360 are like step 320, but pertain to stations #2 throughN rather than to station #1. Steps 350 and 370 are like step 330, butpertain to stations #2 through N rather than to station #1. As anarticle progresses through steps 320–370, information associated withthe article and each station and operation is accumulated and recordedin the processor and is also preferably stored in the smart tagassociated with the article. Thus, at the completion of steps 310through 370, a record of the “history” of the article is recorded in theprocessor and preferably also in the smart tag.

It should be noted that stations #1 through N may include any number andtypes of stations and operations, as may be necessary, convenient ordesirable in the processing, transport and use of any given article. Thesteps, and stations, need not be located in proximity to each other, butmay be in separate buildings or facilities, at different locations andeven widely dispersed geographically, and need not be under theownership and/or control of any one person or entity.

Steps 380 and 385 are alternative steps. Step 380 comprises retainingwith the article the smart tag in which is stored the historicaltransaction information relating to that particular article. The smarttag may be attached to the article or to packaging containing thearticle or employ another suitable associating arrangement. Step 380also includes subsequently using the transactional information stored inthe smart tag in conjunction with using or processing the article oranother article including the smart tagged article.

Step 385 comprises removing the smart tag from the article, or removingthe article from a smart tagged container, or otherwise disassociatingthe smart tag from the article. Step 385 may also include retaining thesmart tag as a record of the history of the article. Alternatively, step385 also may comprise erasing the information stored in the smart tag sothat the smart tag may be re-encoded (step 310) for reuse.

Step 390 comprises compiling, tabulating, manipulating or otherwiseprocessing the information recorded in steps 330, 350, 370 from stations#1-N regarding operations #1-N. Such processed information may beutilized for tracking, monitoring and/or control of a manufacturing orother process, and for control of that process and/or of apparatus,equipment, material, and personnel involved therewith. Step 390 may alsoinclude using such processed information for MRPII purposes, or formanipulation of data as part of a management information system (MIS).

Step 395 comprises communicating information from step 390, i.eprocessed information, as control information for controlling apparatusand/or personnel involved in any of steps 310 through 370. Such controlmay include, for example, adjusting process conditions, material usage,control parameters, and the like, and may include programminginstructions where a station includes a computer or computer-controlledapparatus or equipment.

The communicating of information in connection with any of steps 310–395above may be accomplished by any suitable means including RFcommunication, optical communication, networks (LAN/WAN), and the like,as well as by wire, cable and optical fiber.

FIG. 4A is a schematic representation of a memory allocation 240suitable for a smart card ST for use with the invention. Sections 242,244, 246 of memory EM of smart tag ST are allocated or segmented for thestorage of particular information. Typically, an EEPROM memory isutilized.

Manufacturers of the electronic devices or chips utilized in smart tagstypically segment the memory thereof into two segments: a first segment242 into which the manufacturer burns in (i.e. permanently stores in away that the information cannot thereafter be changed) a uniqueidentifier of the electronic device or chip. Such permanent number 242may be tens or hundreds of bits in length, as is appropriate forproviding a unique identifier. The remainder of the memory capacity 244,246 is left available for the storing of data therein in use, which datamay be modified, written over or otherwise changed in the use of theelectronic device.

Smart tags ST, ST′ are typically utilized for tagging and electronicallyidentifying objects by reading information stored in the electronicmemory of the smart tag using contact-less radio-frequency (RF)transmissions. For the present smart tagging system and method, anelectronic integrated circuit in the form of a semiconductor chip isconnected to an antenna on a substrate to serve as a tag. Thesemiconductor chip typically includes a processor and an electronicmemory for storing information. Information stored in a smart tag can beread by a suitable smart tag reader and can be read and written to by asuitable reader/writer. The reader or reader/writer and the tag antennaare tuned suitably so that RF energy (electromagnetic fields andelectrical signals) can stimulate the tag to emit a signalrepresentative of the information (electronic codes or data) stored inthe tag memory. Such contact-less RF tags eliminate the need for anelectrical contact or a line-of-sight path for communication with thesmart tag.

While it is satisfactory to utilize only the stored permanent numberidentifier 242 to identify the smart tag containing the electronicdevice, it is preferred that the permanent number 242 be stored in arelational database in a processor and be linked to other identifying oruse information for use in identifying the object or article to whichthe smart tag is attached or with which it is associated. Such processoris in communication with the smart tag readers that read informationfrom memory 240 of the smart tags.

One potential problem associated with such smart tags occurs where theinformation desire to be stored therein is simply coded and written intothe writeable memory 244, 246. In that case, any change to theinformation stored therein is undetectable. Typical sources of erroneousor corrupted or erased data include electromagnetic interference,whether accidental or intentional, as well as any intentional orunintentional attempt to modify the stored information, whetherauthorized or unauthorized, such as by a thief or counterfeiter. Havingother than the correct data stored in the memory of the smart tag canlead to misdirection, loss or damage to property and/or injury toperson, none of which is desirable or acceptable.

To reduce the likelihood of undetected erroneous stored information, theremaining memory 244, 246 available to the smart tag user is furthersegmented into two segments. The first segment 244, which is typicallyof greater memory capacity, is allocated for the storage of applicationspecific data, such as the article identification, manufacturer, batchor lot identification and other information, 244 a, and for information244 b that is written back to the smart tag memory by the smart tagreader/writer at the various stations, such as station identification,operation performed, date and time, and the like. The second and smallermemory segment 246 is allocated for storing a relational check number orcode that is a calculated or coded value representative of at least thevalue of the stored application specific data, and preferablyrepresentative of the value of both the permanent number and theapplication specific data. Herein, the relational check number or codeis usually referred to simply as the relational check number to includenumbers and/or codes.

Where the smart tag includes processing capability, the processor can beprogrammed to calculate the relational check number upon each time datais written to its memory, preferably upon command to do so.Alternatively or additionally, each reader/writer or an associatedprocessor or central processor can calculate the relational checknumber. Because the electronic device utilized in a smart tag hassubstantial memory capacity, the relational check number can includemany bits and so can be constructed to permit error correction as wellas error detection.

The foregoing arrangement permits detection of errors and/or changes tothe application specific data at any time by reading the card andrecalculating the relational check number which is then compared to therelational check number read from the smart tag. If the read andcalculated relational check numbers match, then there is a high degreeof certainty that the application specific data has not been changed anddoes not include errors.

It is noted that while the permanent number, the application specificdata and the relational check number or code are referred to as“numbers,” each may include numerical, alphabetic, alpha-numeric andother characters and symbols, conventional or arbitrary, as may bedesired. The relational check number or code is representative of theinformation stored in the memory in accordance with a predeterminedformula or algorithm or other scheme, either on a character by characterbasis or on the basis of one or more combinations of the characters orvalues stored in the memory. Suitable formula and algorithms include,for example, parity checks or other parity representations, sum checks,field relationship checks or any other predetermined relationshipbetween the stored permanent number and application specific data valuesand the relational check number.

Thus, any change to the stored information, including a change thatchanges the stored value of the relational check number or code, will bedetectable and an indication that the stored data contains one or moreerrors or changes. Typically, the particular formula or algorithm thatgenerates the relational check number is not known to third parties andis not derivable from the data stored in the smart tag memory, and sothe relational check number provides a degree of security for theinformation stored in the smart tags.

The formula or other algorithm or other encoder for generating therelational check code or number may be provided in protected firmware,in software or in a combination of firmware and software, to provide ahigher level of security against deciphering or unauthorized coding. Foradditional security, each encoder may also include a unique identifierthat must be paired with coding software having the same uniqueidentifier for enabling proper functioning. The unique encoderidentifier may also be included in or as part of the applicationspecific data.

FIGS. 4B and 4C are schematic representations of memory allocations of arelational database of a processor suitable for use with the invention.Database 1240 represents an aggregation of records stored in relationaldatabase computer software running on a processor. Compiling records ofdata written to smart tags in a relational database is particularlyadvantageous where the data is written to the smart tag and where it isimportant to be able to retrieve such data should the smart tag bemisplaced, lost or stolen, or if the information stored therein ischanged or corrupted or lost for any reason.

In a complete database, database 1240 illustrated by FIG. 4A stores arecord each time data is written to any smart tag used with the trackingsystem. Database 1240 includes, for example, a number of data fieldscomprising a list 1242 of the permanent numbers of the smart tags, alist 1244 of the application specific data of each writing ofapplication specific data to each smart tag, a list 1246 of therelational check number written to each smart tag with each writing ofapplication specific data thereto, and a list 1248 of tag codingidentifiers such as the date, time, reader/writer identification foreach writing of application specific data to each smart tag. Lists 1242,1244, 1246, 1248 are comprised of aggregations of records correspondingto each writing of information to each smart tag, and may be providedfrom one or both of the smart tag and the reader/writer utilized foreach writing of information.

In a simplified database, database 1240′ includes, for example, lists1242, 1246 and 1248. This database arrangement may be advantageous wherethe database is stored in a local processor and/or a smart tagreader/writer where available memory capacity may be more limited thanin another processor. In either a complete or simplified database,information relating to each writing of information to each smart tag iscommunicated to a processor in real time or delayed, and may be periodicor aperiodic. Information may be communicated by any of the meansdescribed as well as by manual communication, e.g., by transporting thesmart tag reader/writer and/or local processor and/or computer mediacontaining the information stored in such smart tag reader/writer and/orlocal processor to another processor.

Suitable relational database software include ACCESS and SQL Serverdatabase software which runs on conventional PC processors with standardoperating systems, such as Windows-NT, both available from MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash., as well as the ORACLE, SYBASE andINFORMIX database software. Preferably the database software is“Internet-ready” in that it includes features facilitating connection toand communication of information via the Internet.

Each database record will typically include fields for some or all ofthe following application specific data or information in addition tothe permanent number:

-   -   Article information including but not limited to article or        other product identification, name, model and/or serial number,        UPC product code, customer and/or owner, batch, lot or shipment        number and/or other identifying number, and the like.    -   Station and/or operation information including but not limited        to booth/station identification, operator/personnel        identification, entry and exit time data (arriving and leaving),        date, expiration date, keypad/keyboard entered data, data        item/information requests, quality control/inspection        information, smart tag information, and the like.    -   Relational check number representative of any or all of the        foregoing application specific data and/or the permanent number        of the smart tag.

Where the information written to each smart tag is all communicated toand stored in a central database and where all subsequent action to betaken will be taken based upon the information stored in the centraldatabase, then the use of a relational check number to verify theinformation stored in the smart tag and/or detect errors in and changesthereto is of much less importance.

In any case, the central database can be utilized to provide particularinformation, general information, status information, statisticalinformation, and other information on an on-line basis that is at leastas current as the entry of record information into the database. Whereevery writing of information to a smart tag is also replicated in arecord stored in the relational database, the relational databasecontains and can provide a detailed history of the utilization of thesmart tag, e.g., the path of the visitor's visit to the exhibition andthe date and time of each visit to each booth as well as informationrequested or entered at each such visit.

FIG. 5A is a flow chart schematic diagram of an example of a utilizationof the memory allocations 242, 244, 246, and of memory allocations andrelational database structures 1242, 1244, 1246, 1248 of FIGS. 4A–4Caccording to the invention. Information from the smart tag is read 1200,such information including, for example, a permanent number related tothe particular smart tag, application specific data relating to thearticle and stations, and a check number representative of at least theapplication specific data and preferably the application specific dataand the permanent number. Application specific data read from the smarttag is decoded 1205 and the permanent number read from the smart tag isstored.

A cross check 1210 is made between the application specific data and thepermanent number read from the smart tag. Cross check 1210 includescalculating from the application specific data and the permanent numberthe value of the check number and comparing that calculated value to thevalue of the check number read from the smart tag. If the two checknumbers correlate, then there is a high degree of confidence that theapplication specific data does not contain errors and has not beenaltered. It is noted that cross check 1210 is performed at leastinitially using only the information read from the smart tag and so doesnot necessarily require a central processor or database. If there is anon-correlation or other discrepancy, such non-correlation ordiscrepancy produces an alarm 1215 and further correlation steps may betaken.

Results of the reading of smart tags and of the correlation of the checknumbers thereof are reported 1215 in any convenient form. Such reportingmay be by aggregation of records in a database for current or delayedreview, by displaying the results or summaries of results or statisticsrelated to results on a human-perceivable display, or by initiating analarm 1215 of lack of correlation of check numbers. Such alarm may takethe form of a print out, a paper document, a visual display, a warningscreen, an audible signal, a signal to a control or monitoring stationor to a pager or cell phone, or any other convenient form of alarm orsignal.

A further cross check 1220 may be made to check at least the permanentnumber and relational check number stored in the database to thepermanent number and relational check number read from the smart tag.Because the permanent number of a smart tag cannot be changed, crosscheck 1220 includes comparing the relational check number read from aparticular smart tag having a given permanent number with the relationalcheck number stored in the relational database for the most-recentrecord corresponding to that given permanent number. Correspondence orlack of correspondence of the respective relational check numbers fromcross check 1220 is utilized to confirm such correspondence or lackthereof by human-perceivable display or alarm, as described above.

In particular, correspondence in cross check 1220 initiates confirming amatch 1230, e.g., by any human-perceivable display, report or alarm, asdescribed above. Lack of correspondence in cross check 1220 is adiscrepancy that initiates giving an alarm 1232, e.g., by anyhuman-perceivable display, report or alarm, as described above.

Initiating a human-perceivable display or alarm, or communicatinginformation to or from another location can include linking 1234 theprocessor performing any of cross checks 1210 and 1230 and/or producinga report or alarm 1215, 1230, 1232, to a remote processor, display oralarm via the Internet. Such linking via the Internet 1232 may includeaccessing a remote relational database, which may be an open database towhich information can be added, deleted or changed or which may be aclosed database not allowing information to be added, deleted or changedvia the Internet link. Access may be controlled by access codes,passwords and the like as desired, and information communicated via theInternet may be encrypted, to provide the desired degree of security.

Further, correlation or lack of correlation or any other differencebetween the information read from a smart tag and the relatedinformation stored in the relational database initiates displaying 1236data from any one or more of the smart tag and a local or centralrelational database, or if such data is limited or missing, displaying1236 a default indication, e.g., whatever information is stored in thedatabase. Displaying 1236 may include displaying information from thesmart tag and the relational database or may be limited, e.g., todisplaying the differences and/or discrepancies of that information, andmay be immediate or delayed. Displaying 1236 may be for each cross check1210, 1220, or may be for any number of cross checks 1210, 1220.

The display of the result or status of any step and/or of theinformation to which attention is to be drawn may be included in adisplay of information, e.g., such as by highlighting or coloring theportion of the displayed information to which attention is to be drawn,or by separately displaying the information to which attention is to bedrawn. Where information desirable to be displayed is available in therelational database, such information is retrieved and displayedautomatically, either locally, remotely or via the Internet, asappropriate. If such information is not so available, a warning orinstruction to an operator is provided to instruct the operator toeither retrieve the information or to segregate or mark the affectedsmart tag for special treatment or handling, e.g., such as alerting anattendant or operator at final or check out station when an articleassociated with that smart tag arrives.

It is noted that the foregoing arrangements and method also can enablethe detection of changing or tampering with the information stored inthe smart card for the unlikely case where the changing or tampering isdone with knowledge of the calculation of the relational check number.In such case, the relational check number is correctly related to theapplication specific data and/or the permanent number and so the simplecross checking 1210 will not detect the changing or tampering. Becausethe information written to each smart tag is also stored in therelational database correlated to the smart tag unchangeable permanentnumber, comparison of the changed or tampered-with information read froma smart card is detectable by cross checking 1220 that read informationagainst the information stored in the relational database.

Where desired, the relational database may be accessed and madeavailable by any convenient means, e.g., by providing same on floppydisk or CD-ROM, optical CD and the like that is easily sent by mail,express and the like, or by making same available via communicationmeans such as wire, cable, optical fiber, LAN, WAN, optical or radiofrequency transmission, the Internet and the like.

FIG. 5B is a flow chart schematic diagram of another example of autilization of the memory allocations 242, 244, 246, and of memoryallocations and relational database structures 1242, 1244, 1246, 1248 ofFIGS. 4A–4C according to the invention. It is noted that the steps ofFIG. 5B include steps as described above in relation to FIG. 5A, butarranged for a more direct illustration of certain steps. Informationfrom the smart tag is read 1200, such information including, forexample, the permanent number related to the particular smart tag,application specific data, and a relational check number (also referredto as a “relational encryption code”) representative of at least theapplication specific data and preferably the application specific dataand the permanent number.

The encoded application specific data and relational check number readfrom the smart tag are decoded and separated 1205′ and are compared1210′ to determine whether the relational encryption or check code ornumber read from the smart tag corresponds to or matches the relationalencryption or check code or number recalculated by the processor fromthe application specific data and the permanent number read from thesmart tag. I.e. match 1210′ is a cross check that includes calculatingfrom the application specific data and the permanent number the value ofthe relational check number and comparing that calculated value to thevalue of the check number read from the smart tag.

If the two check numbers correlate (i.e. match, path “Y”), then there isa high degree of confidence that the application specific data does notcontain errors and has not been altered, and the application specificdata is displayed 1215/1230 along with confirmation that the relationalcheck number correlates.

If there is a non-correlation (i.e. non-match, path “N”) or otherdiscrepancy, such non-correlation or discrepancy produces the display ofa warning or alarm 1215/1232 and initiates further correlation steps.Such further steps include retrieving 1220′/1234′ from a relationaldatabase records stored therein corresponding the particular smart tagrelated, for example, by its permanent number, and displaying or posting1215/1232 such retrieved stored records. Access to the relationaldatabase, if not direct in the processor, is by communication1220′/1234′ with a processor via communication means, typically a LAN orWAN, or via the Internet.

Whether there is correlation or non-correlation of the relational checknumber, a record is stored 1238 in the relational database including theinformation read from the smart tag in step 1200, whether or not theread data correlated or not in step 1210′, and the identity of thestation or check point at which such data was read.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of examples of antenna arrays 130(designated 130′ and 130″) suitable for use with the invention. Eachantenna array 130 comprises a plurality of antenna 132, 134, 136, 138, .. . disposed or arrayed in respective orientations so as to produce,when transmitting, an electromagnetic field in the detection regionhaving components in each of three orthogonal directions, and so as tobe responsive to, when receiving, an electromagnetic field in thedetection region having components in each of three orthogonaldirections. Because each array 130 includes a plurality of antenna,preferably loop antenna, 132, 134, 136, 138, . . . , the antenna may beconveniently be attached to and supported by existing structure at eachstation OS or entrance or exit, or may be supported by a supportingstructure provided for that purpose. Typically, the antenna 132, 134,136, 138, . . . of the antenna array 130 are spaced apart and aredisposed to surround the space defined as the detection region.

Because the relevant electromagnetic field has components in each ofthree orthogonal directions, communication between at least one of theantennas 132, 134, 136, 138, . . . of the antenna array 130 and theantenna of a smart tag ST, ST′ in the detection region is possibleregardless of the orientation of the smart tag. As a result, there is ahigh degree of confidence that information is correctly from read fromand/or written to the tag or tags ST, ST′ present in the detectionregion. Such antenna array is sometimes referred to as an“all-orientation” antenna array.

In particular, the antenna array 130′ at the top of FIG. 6 includes fourantenna loops 132, 134, 136, 138 coupled to smart tag control unit CUfor reading information from and writing information to a smart tag ST,ST′. The four antenna loops 132, 134, 136, 138 may be disposed in planesdefining the sides of a parallelepiped-shaped detection region,preferably with at least one of the loop antenna disposed so that thesmart tag ST, ST′ moves through the central region of the loop. Theantenna loops 132, 134, . . . may be crossed one over the other or overitself so as to have conductors that appear to form a “net” or thatappear to be “knitted” and one or more of the loops may be skewed at anangle of about 45° to 135° with respect to one or more of the otherloops.

The antenna array 130″ at the bottom of FIG. 6 includes a plurality pfantenna loops 132, 134, . . . (only two shown) coupled to smart tagcontrol unit CU for reading information from and writing information toa smart tag ST, ST′. The plural antenna loops 132, 134, . . . aredisposed on flexible plastic planar sheets 131 that are hung togetherside by side as a segmented flexible curtain to cover the opening of anentrance, exit or other access way that defines detection region, forexample, as illustrated by FIG. 7A. Antenna loops 132, 134, . . . arecoupled via coaxial cables 130C to splitter 130SP for couplingelectrical signals thereto. It is noted that because antennas 132, 134,. . . are on flexible plastic substrate segments 131, they also providea cover for the access way similar to conventional plastic doorwaycurtains.

As illustrated in the antenna array 1130 shown in FIG. 7B, additionalsimilar loop antenna 1132, 1134-2, . . . disposed on additional flexibleplastic sheets 1131 hung in between (alternating with) and substantiallyperpendicular with the sheets 131 that form a curtain. Antenna loops1132, 1134, . . . are coupled via coaxial cables 1130C to splitter1130SP for coupling electrical signals thereto. Sheets 1131 may or maynot intersect the plane that contains sheets 131. Loop antenna 1132,1134, . . . improve antenna array 1130 operation under some conditions,but are optional. The flexible planar sheets 131, 1131 are parted andmove when an article or articles pass through the access way so as tomove ones of the loop antenna 132, 134, . . . and/or loop antenna 1132,1134, . . . on the plastic sheets to different orientations so that atleast one of the loop antenna becomes disposed to read information fromand/or write information to smart tag ST, ST′ as the article(s) move(s)through the access way.

To avoid interaction or interference between transmission and/orreception by the various ones of the antenna 132, 134, . . . and 1132,1134, . . . of the antenna array 130 and 1130, the antenna 132, 134, . .. and 1132, 1134, . . . . are loop antenna arranged with spatial ortemporal separation. That is the loop antenna are typically spaced apartso as to be spatially separated or are activated and/or enabledsequentially in time so that one antenna is active (i.e. transmitting orreceiving) at any given time and is independent of the others whenactive. Antenna sequencing and timing may be provided and/or controlledby control unit CU or by control unit CU in conjunction with one or moreof processors LC, 200, and may be coordinated with other sequencedantenna arrays such as via a distribution hub 110 or other couplingpath.

In the temporally separated loop antenna, the time in the antennaactivation sequence for which any one antenna is active for transmittingand/or receiving information (i.e. the “dwell time”) is typicallybetween about 150 and 350 milliseconds. Antenna sequencing isestablished at a rate sufficiently high so that all of the antennas areactivated within the minimum time that a moving article to be detectedis within the detection region. Where individual smart tags ST′ areutilized, one or more time slots in the antenna sequence may bededicated to reading and/or writing to the individual smart tags ST′.The sequencing rate is typically about 0.5 to 2 complete sequences persecond, so that the duration of each complete sequence (i.e. the “cycletime”) is about 500 to 2000 milliseconds.

Where the antenna loops are spatially separated, either in place oftemporal separation or in addition thereto, the spatial separation istypically sufficient when less than about 50% of the effectiveelectromagnetic field region overlaps within the detection region.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of an antenna array 700suitable for use with the invention. Antenna array 700 includes aplurality of loop antenna 720–755, disposed around and proximate to thetransport path 710 of an object including a smart tag. Specifically,loop antenna 720–755 define a parallelepiped “tunnel” of passage havingright and left sides 702 and 704, top 706 and bottom 708. One directionof travel is indicated by the arrow of transport path 710, but theopposite direction of travel may also be used. Antenna loops 720–755 aredisposed in a plurality of spatially separated regions of antenna array700 indicated by the letters A, B, C and D.

Antenna loop 720 is disposed in region A of antenna array 700 tosurround transport path 710 so that the object including a smart tagpasses through loop 720. Antenna loop 720 is optional where the smarttags are of sufficient size to sufficiently couple transmittedelectromagnetic signals to others of antenna loops 730–755.

Antenna loops 730 and 735 are disposed adjacent to transport path 710 onbottom 708 and on side 702, respectively, in region B of antenna array700. Loops 730 and 735 are substantially perpendicular (e.g., at about80° to 100°) to each other so as to sufficiently couple transmittedelectromagnetic signals as the object including a smart tag is proximatethereto. Similarly, but spatially separated therefrom, antenna loops 750and 755 are disposed adjacent to transport path 710 on top 706 and onside 704, respectively, in region D of antenna array 700. Loops 750 and755 are substantially perpendicular (e.g., at about 80° to 100°) to eachother so as to sufficiently couple transmitted electromagnetic signalsas the object including a smart tag is proximate thereto. Together,antenna loops 730. 750, 735, 755 are on the bottom, top and both sides702, 704 to together surround transport path 710.

Antenna loops 740 and 745 are disposed to each surround transport path710 in region C of antenna array 700, similarly to loop 720 of region A.Loops 740 and 745 are skewed or rotated so as to not be substantiallyperpendicular to transport path 710, but to be skewed at an angle ofabout 45° to 135° with respect thereto. Loop 740 is rotated or skewed ina direction about a vertical line and loop 745 is rotated or skewedabout a horizontal direction so as to appear to lean or be tilted. As aresult, loop antenna 740, 745 are disposed in skewed fashion so as tosufficiently couple transmitted electromagnetic signals as the objectincluding a smart tag is proximate thereto in an orientation not likelyto couple efficiently to, e.g., antenna loops 730, 735, 750 and 755.Antenna loops 740 and/or 745 are optional where the smart tags are ofsufficient size to sufficiently couple transmitted electromagneticsignals to others of antenna loops 720–735 and 750–755.

While various temporally and/or spatially separated antenna arrayarrangements may be utilized with the present invention, examples ofsuitable antenna arrays are described in detail in Applicant'sco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/854,722 entitled “ANTENNAARRAY FOR SMART RFID TAGS” filed on May 14, 2001, which is herebyincorporated herein in its entirety. Examples of typical smart tagssuitable for use with the present invention are described and shown inApplicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/412,058entitled “ARTICLE HAVING AN EMBEDDED ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND METHOD OFMAKING SAME” filed Oct. 4, 1999, Ser. No. 09/411,849 entitled “WIRELESSARTICLE INCLUDING A PLURAL-TURN LOOP ANTENNA” filed Oct. 4, 1999, andSer. No. 09/671,923 entitled “TAMPER-RESISTANT WIRELESS ARTICLEINCLUDING AN ANTENNA” filed Sep. 28, 2000.

While the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoingexemplary embodiments, variations within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as defined by the claims following will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, many different combinations ofantenna arrays, control units, communication devices and processors maybe employed in making and using the system and in practicing the methodof the present invention. Antenna arrays may be provided in any kind ofarea such as storage bins, containers, display cases and shelves, cargoareas and holds, as well as places whether or not described above.

The information communicated between smart tag, control unit and/orprocessor may include any information of interest to the proprietor oroperator of the system or method. For example, the identity of thearticle is information often desired, and may include the model or typenumber, the serial number, the name or nomenclature, material and/orcomponent information, order or contract number, and the like, and suchinformation may relate to the article, the container carrying thearticle and/or an apparatus into which the article will ultimately beincorporated.

Smart tags of various types may be utilized as convenient. Where theoperation may involve a harsh or severe environment, such as hightemperature or pressure, chemical reactants and solvents, detergents andbleaches and the like, the smart tag is of materials compatible withthat environment. For example, a smart tag having a polyimide substratewith solid copper conductors thereon and nickel-gold metal platedinterconnection pads, and wherein the electronic chip is connected tothe interconnection pads with a high-temperature flexible conductiveadhesive, may withstand temperatures of about 200° C. for at least 100hours. Such tags may be contained within a closed package or containerthat isolates the temperature rise of the smart tag to less than about150° C. within 60 minutes, even when the temperature of the operation isover 300° C. Such package may also prevent chemicals and solvents fromreaching and attacking the smart tag.

1. A method for tracking an article, managing an article, or both,wherein an RFID tag is associated with the article, comprising:associating at least one RFID tag with an article, the RFID tagincluding an electronic memory containing information relating to thearticle and an antenna coupled to the electronic memory for transmittingand/or receiving information-bearing signals in an RFID tag format,wherein the information-bearing signals represent information to bestored in the electronic memory and/or represent information producedfrom the electronic memory; providing a plurality of stations at whichan operation is performed, each station comprising an RFID reader fortransmitting and/or receiving information-bearing signals in the RFIDtag format via an antenna defining a detection region proximate thestation; storing in a database associated with each station at leastinformation contained in the received information-bearing signals, andproviding from the database information that is included in thetransmitted information-bearing signals, wherein the information storedin the database of the station includes information relating to one ormore of an article, an operation performed at the station, and acondition; whereby information is communicated between the electronicmemory of the RFID tag and the database of a particular station via theRFID tag reader thereof when the RFID tag is in the detection region ofthat particular station; and communicating information stored in thedatabase of the station to a remote processor, whereby informationstored in the database of the station may be accessed remotely forobtaining information relating to the article.
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising: communicating information from the databases of oneor more of the plurality of stations to a central processor forproviding a central database thereon of the information representedthereby, whereby the respective databases of the stations and thecentral database are in communication for sending and receivinginformation between and among the databases of the stations and thecentral processor.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the central databaseincludes an aggregation of records stored in the databases of theplurality of stations.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein saidcommunicating includes providing access via the Internet to the databaseof the station, to the central database of the central processor, or tothe database of the station and to the central database of the centralprocessor.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said communicating comprisescommunicating via one or more of wire, cable, optical fiber, radio or RFtransmission, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), theInternet, and a combination thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1: whereinsaid communicating includes providing access via the Internet to thedatabases of one or more of the stations; or wherein the databases ofone or more of the stations includes an open database to whichinformation can be added, deleted or changed or includes a closeddatabase not allowing information to be added, deleted or changed viathe Internet; or wherein said communicating includes providing accessvia the Internet to the databases of one or more of the stations andwherein the databases of one or more of the stations includes an opendatabase to which information can be added, deleted or changed orincludes a closed database not allowing information to be added, deletedor changed via the Internet.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein theoperation performed at a station includes a sale, purchase or transferof an article, the method further comprising: removing the RFID tag fromthe article sold, purchased or transferred, or erasing or coding theelectronic memory of the RFID tag associated with the article sold,purchased or transferred to indicate the article has been sold,purchased or transferred.
 8. The method of claim 1: wherein theelectronic memory of the RFID tag contains information including any oneor more of: inventory information, universal product code (UPC),manufacturer, make or brand name, model or type, a specific piece, aserial number, a batch identifier, a lot identifier, an identifyingnumber, pricing, date of manufacture, and date of receipt; or whereinthe electronic memory of the RFID tag includes information storedtherein by a station relating to the identity of that station, to theoperation performed at that station, or to both; or wherein theelectronic memory of the RFID tag includes a relational check numberrepresentative of the information stored therein; or wherein the RFIDtag includes thereon in human-readable form, in machine-readable form,or in both forms, all or part of the information stored in theelectronic memory thereof; or wherein the RFID tag is resistant totampering, enables detection of tampering, or both; or wherein the RFIDtag is any one or more of tamper-resistant, tamper-destruct,tamper-evident, and high-temperature resistant; or wherein the RFID tagis removable or re-encodable or both for reuse; or any combination ofthe foregoing.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation performedat ones of the plurality of stations includes at least one of amanufacturing operation, processing, testing, inspecting, operationtiming, productivity monitoring, work and/or time recording, aninventory operation, inventory control, inventory management, trackingarticles arriving and leaving, a quality control operation, personneltime and attendance recording, a management operation, access control, adistribution operation, a transport operation, a shipping operation, areceiving operation, a storage operation, a display operation,exhibition, a sales operation, a loyalty program, a buying operation, awholesale operation and a retail operation.
 10. The method of claim 1wherein at least ones of the plurality of stations are associated withone of a warehouse, a manufacturing facility, a processing facility, adisplay, a display rack, a shelf, a storage area, a storage bin, anentrance, an exit, an access way, tracking articles arriving andleaving, a transport operation, a vehicle, an airplane, a ship, a train,a truck, a container, a storage container, a transport container, apallet, a wholesale operation, a check out, a retail operation, a store,and a display facility.
 11. A system for monitoring and tracking one ormore articles, wherein an RFID tag is associated with each article, andwherein the one or more articles may include one or more products,comprising: one or more RFID tags, wherein each RFID tag is respectivelyassociated with one of the one or more articles, each said RFID tagcomprising: an electronic memory containing information relating to theone article and an antenna coupled to the electronic memory fortransmitting and/or receiving information-bearing signals in an RFID tagformat, wherein the information-bearing signals represent information tobe stored in the electronic memory of said RFID tag or representinformation produced from the electronic memory thereof, or representboth; one or more monitoring stations at which any one or more of thearrival, departure and presence of an RFID tag associated with anarticle is detected, each said monitoring station comprising: an RFIDreader associated with said monitoring station for transmitting and/orreceiving information-bearing signals in the RFID tag format via one ormore antenna in a detection region proximate said monitoring station;and at least one processor associated with said monitoring station forstoring in a database at least information contained in the receivedinformation-bearing signals, and for providing information that isincluded in the transmitted information-bearing signals; wherein theinformation stored in the database of said monitoring station processorincludes information relating said monitoring station and to RFID tagsassociated with articles present at said monitoring station and to RFIDtags associated with articles previously present at said monitoringstation; whereby information is communicated between the electronicmemory of RFID tags and the monitoring station processor database of aparticular monitoring station via the RFID tag reader thereof when theRFID tag is in the detection region of that particular monitoringstation; one or more tracking stations at which the presence of an RFIDtag associated with an article is detected, each said tracking stationcomprising: an RFID reader associated with said tracking station fortransmitting and/or receiving information-bearing signals in the RFIDtag format via one or more antenna in a detection region proximate saidtracking station; and at least one processor associated with saidtracking station for storing in a database at least informationcontained in the received information-bearing signals, and for providinginformation that is included in the transmitted information-bearingsignals; wherein the information stored in the database of said trackingstation processor includes information relating to said tracking stationand to the RFID tags associated with articles presently and previouslyproximate the detection region of said tracking station; wherebyinformation is communicated between the electronic memory of RFID tagsand the tracking station processor database of a particular trackingstation via the RFID tag reader thereof when the RFID tag is in thedetection region of that particular tracking station; and communicationmeans for communicating information stored in the database of saidmonitoring station processor or information stored in the database ofsaid tracking station processor or both to a remote processor, wherebyinformation stored in the database of the monitoring station processor,in the database of the tracking station processor, or both, may beaccessed remotely by a remote processor for obtaining informationrelating to RFID tagged articles.
 12. The system of claim 11 furthercomprising a remote processor comprising a web-enabled computeraccessing the database of one or more of the monitoring stationprocessors, the database of one or more of the tracking stationprocessors, or both, via said communication means.
 13. The system ofclaim 12 wherein said communication means comprises one or more of atelephone line, network, a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet; or wherein theaccessing the database is controlled by any one or more of: accesscodes, passwords, and encryption; or wherein the database of saidmonitoring station processor, of said tracking station processor, orboth, includes an open database to which information can be added,deleted or changed or includes a closed database not allowinginformation to be added, deleted or changed via the Internet; or whereinsaid communication means provides access via the Internet to thedatabase of said monitoring station processor, of said tracking stationprocessor, or both, and wherein the database of said monitoring stationprocessor, of said tracking station processor, or both, includes an opendatabase to which information can be added, deleted or changed orincludes a closed database not allowing information to be added, deletedor changed via the Internet; or any combination of the foregoing. 14.The system of claim 11 further comprising a central processor incommunication with the processor of one or more of said monitoringstations and with the processor of one or more of said tracking stationsvia said communication means for storing in a database of said centralprocessor information from the database of one or more of the monitoringstation processors, information from the database of one or more of thetracking station processors, or both.
 15. The system of claim 14 whereinsaid communication means comprises one or more of a telephone line,network, a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet.
 16. The system of claim 11wherein the one or more articles are one or more products, wherein oneor more of the monitoring stations are in a location for any one or moreof manufacturing, quality monitoring, inventory monitoring, distributionand shipping, and wherein one or more of the tracking stations are in alocation for any one or more of distribution, shipping, transport, andreceiving.
 17. The system of claim 11 wherein said monitoring stations,said tracking stations, or both, provide any one or more of: trackingand monitoring of parts, components, materials, and work in process onan essentially real-time basis, rates of usage, inventory andreplenishment ordering, “just-in-time” purchasing, purchasing, inventorymanaging, excessive usage monitoring, process efficiency monitoring, andtheft monitoring, explanations of excess material usage, materialssubstitutions, and monitoring consistency between an actual bill ofmaterial and a theoretical or planned bill of material.
 18. The systemof claim 11 wherein the electronic memory of said RFID tag containsinformation including any one or more of: inventory information,universal product code (UPC), manufacturer, make or brand name, model ortype, a specific piece, a serial number, a batch identifier, a lotidentifier, an identifying number, pricing, date of manufacture, anddate of receipt; or wherein the electronic memory of the RFID tagincludes information stored therein by a monitoring station, a trackingstation, or both, relating to the identity of that station, to theoperation performed at that station, or to both; or wherein theelectronic memory of said RFID tag includes a relational check numberrepresentative of the information stored therein; or wherein said RFIDtag includes thereon in human-readable form, in machine-readable form,or in both forms, all or part of the information stored in theelectronic memory thereof; or wherein said RFID tag is resistant totampering, enables detection of tampering, or both; or wherein said RFIDtag is any one or more of tamper-resistant, tamper-destruct,tamper-evident, and high-temperature resistant; or wherein said RFID tagis removable or re-encodable or both for reuse; or any combination ofthe foregoing.
 19. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of saidtracking stations comprises any one or more of a retail display space, ashowroom, an area where customers may inspect and/or select articles forpurchase a merchandise display, a storage area, a container, a pallet, adisplay shelf, a display case, and a showroom area, so that theidentity, type and quantity of articles thereat is available by readingthe information from the RFID tags thereof.
 20. The system of claim 11wherein one or more of the articles are sold or transferred, and whereinthe RFID tag associated with the article sold or transferred is any oneor more of: removed from the article, retained as a record of thehistory of the article, erased or changed to indicate the sale ortransfer of the article, erased for reuse, removed from a containercontaining the article, and otherwise disassociated from the article.21. A method for monitoring and tracking one or more products indistribution, wherein an RFID tag is associated with each product, acontainer for the one or more products, or both, comprising: associatingone or more RFID tags with each product, container for the one or moreproducts, or both, each RFID tag comprising a memory and an antenna fortransmitting information from the RFID tag memory in an RFID tag formatand/or receiving information for the RFID tag memory in the RFID tagformat, storing in the memory of each RFID tag information relating tothe product, the container, or both, with which it is associated;providing one or more tracking stations on a distribution path alongwhich the one or more products move in distribution, each trackingstation comprising an RFID reader for transmitting and/or receivinginformation in the RFID tag format via one or more antenna in adetection region proximate the tracking station; storing informationrelating to any one or more of the arrival, departure and presence ofthe RFID tag associated with the product, container, or both, in thedatabase of the tracking station when the RFID tag is in the detectionregion of that tracking station, whereby the database of each trackingstation includes information relating to RFID tags present at thattracking station and to RFID tags previously present at that trackingstation and whereby the databases of the tracking stations includeinformation relating to distribution of the product, container, or both;providing one or more dispensing stations at dispensing points of thedistribution path along which the one or more products move indistribution, each dispensing station comprising an RFID reader fortransmitting and/or receiving information in the RFID tag format via oneor more antenna in a detection region proximate the dispensing station;storing information relating to dispensing the product, container, orboth, associated with the RFID tag in the database of the dispensingstation when the RFID tag is in the detection region of that trackingstation; and accessing the databases of the one or more trackingstations, the databases of the one or more dispensing stations, or both,for monitoring and tracking the product, container, or both.
 22. Themethod for monitoring and tracking one or more products in distributionof claim 21 further comprising: when the RFID tag is in the detectionregion of a tracking station, storing information relating to thattracking station in the memory of the RFID tag associated with theproduct, container, or both, whereby the memory of the RFID tagassociated with the product, container, or both, includes informationrelating to the tracking stations at which the product, container, orboth, was present in distribution.
 23. The method for monitoring andtracking one or more products in distribution of claim 21 furthercomprising protecting the information stored in the memory of the RFIDtag by a relational check number stored in the memory of the RFID tag.24. The method for monitoring and tracking one or more products indistribution of claim 23 wherein information read from the memory of theRFID tag of the product, container, or both, includes the relationalcheck number stored therein, the method further comprising: at thedispensing station, generating a relational check number for theinformation read from the RFID tag of the product, container, or both;and comparing the generated relational check number and the relationalcheck number read from the RFID tag; and if the generated and readrelational check numbers match, dispensing the product, container, orboth.
 25. The method for monitoring and tracking one or more products indistribution of claim 21 wherein said accessing comprises: accessing thedatabases of the one or more tracking stations, the databases of the oneor more dispensing stations, or both, for monitoring and tracking theproduct, container, or both, substantially in real-time; orcommunicating with the databases of the one or more tracking stations,the databases of the one or more dispensing stations, or both, via oneor more of a telephone line, network, a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet; orcontrolling access to the databases of the one or more trackingstations, the databases of the one or more dispensing stations, or both,by any one or more of: access codes, passwords, and encryption; orcommunicating with the databases of the one or more tracking stations,the databases of the one or more dispensing stations, or both, via theInternet wherein the database of the tracking station, the database ofthe dispensing station, or both, includes an open database to whichinformation can be added, deleted or changed or includes a closeddatabase not allowing information to be added, deleted or changed viathe Internet; or any combination of the foregoing.
 26. The method formonitoring and tracking one or more products in distribution of claim 21wherein the database of the tracking station, the database of thedispensing station, or both, includes an open database to whichinformation can be added, deleted or changed or includes a closeddatabase not allowing information to be added, deleted or changed viathe Internet; or any combination thereof.
 27. The method for monitoringand tracking one or more products in distribution of claim 21 whereinsaid accessing comprises accessing the databases of the one or moretracking stations, the databases of the one or more dispensing stations,or both, via a communication path including the Internet using aweb-enabled computer.
 28. The method for monitoring and tracking one ormore products in distribution of claim 21 wherein the dispensing stationis associated with any one or more of shipping, receiving, distributing,transporting, checking out, selling, and retailing.